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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: srtben on May 03, 2012, 10:20:00 PM

Title: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: srtben on May 03, 2012, 10:20:00 PM: First off the pictures are not up to my standards, but there was no way to fit this big guy in my light box!
This is the second hidden tang knife I have ever done, and I really wanted to push myself. It has a bunch of features I have never tried before.
It has a crested spine that transitions into to the clip. The handle is dyed elk antler, and all the fittings are blued mild steel. I tried an etched and 1000grit hand rubbed finish. I also made a matching frog (another first) for the sheath and am waiting on some snake skin to complete the sheath.
It is not perfect, but I learned a lot along the way.
OAL is 19.5", the blade is 13.75" of 5160.
Any and all comments and critiques are welcome!
Thanks for looking.

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1556.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1570.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1559.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1560.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1572.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1565.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1566.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20Bowie/IMG_1568.jpg)
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: akaboomer on May 03, 2012, 10:26:00 PM: Ben, that's my favorite of yours. Looks great. Congrats!

Chris
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: amar911 on May 04, 2012, 01:36:00 AM: Quote
Originally posted by akaboomer:
Ben, that's my favorite of yours. Looks great. Congrats!

Chris
I agree 100% with Chris!

Allan
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: 2treks on May 04, 2012, 07:36:00 AM: That big boy could done some serious trail clearing. I really like it, The trim is my favorite features. How do you do the textured surface on the guard and such? I like that about your knives.
OH, whats the "frog? for? To wrap a thong around and hold the knife in?
Well done,
CTT
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: kbaknife on May 04, 2012, 08:11:00 AM: I love that butt cap!
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Steve Nuckels on May 04, 2012, 09:14:00 AM: WoW Ben! Most impressive! This is by far my fav of yours so far! All kinds of great detail on this knife! Did you use the Burchwood-Casy products for the Blueing?

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Rusty Snuffers on May 04, 2012, 09:19:00 AM: That brute is a beaut! Nice job once again, Ben.

Rusty
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Lin Rhea on May 04, 2012, 09:20:00 AM: This is one of my favorites of yours too and not because it's a big knife. It has some things that showed you are not taking the "easy way". The contrasting textures for one. The hidden tang construction another. I bet soon you will be making more of the through tang fastening procedure. Done right, they are very strong.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Emmons on May 04, 2012, 09:41:00 AM: Well done!! Excellent bowie!!
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Izzy on May 04, 2012, 10:02:00 AM: Very nice package. That frog is too cool. It seems like we've been allowed to follow your progression in this forum and your getting closer and closer to the top with every piece you build. Congrats.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Craig B on May 04, 2012, 10:18:00 AM: Absolutely outstanding Ben! Your patience really shows in this one. My fav of yours by far
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: gables on May 04, 2012, 04:58:00 PM: Great work and kudos for pushing your skills. Excellent job on the texture and overall aesthetics of it.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: srtben on May 04, 2012, 06:42:00 PM: Thanks guys for the kind words!

I started making knives mostly because of this forum, this is sort of a culmination of what I have learned so far.

Lin, I do plan on doing more hidden tangs and hope to try a takedown soon. This one is actually internally fastened with a threaded tang and "washer" set into the antler.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: srtben on May 04, 2012, 06:48:00 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Two Tracks:
That big boy could done some serious trail clearing. I really like it, The trim is my favorite features. How do you do the textured surface on the guard and such? I like that about your knives.
OH, whats the "frog? for? To wrap a thong around and hold the knife in?
Well done,
CTT
Thanks Chuck! The texture is done with various ball peen hammers, I just peck away at the steel until the surface is totally covered. It is time consuming, but I really like the effect.
The "frog" will be attached outside sheath so you can slip the sheath under your belt and it will catch on it. I have seen lots of cool custom ones on various high end knife/sheath combos. This was my first try at one, I am pretty pleased at how it came out!
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: 2treks on May 04, 2012, 07:29:00 PM: Thanks for the reply Ben.
It looks better each time I come back to see it.
Very nice.

CTT
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Ray Hammond on May 06, 2012, 06:40:00 PM: I really like the varied textures and use of materials

Very nice
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Doug Campbell on May 06, 2012, 08:23:00 PM: Yep that is a dandy Ben, I'm with Karl, that butt cap is nice!
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: srtben on May 07, 2012, 06:51:00 PM: Thanks Doug, I have been having fun using the small wheel on my grinder. This was my first go at a pommel with it.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: PrarrieDog on May 08, 2012, 11:56:00 PM: This is the closest to a Bill Bagwell bowie I have seen. I really REALLY like it.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: srtben on May 11, 2012, 09:02:00 PM: Thank you sir, that is a huge compliment!

Update one the sheath.
I received a beautiful western diamond back snake skin from Charles (Snakewood3) today and got a good start on the sheath. This will be the first inlay sheath for me, so we will see how it comes out. Next up will be about 4 feet of hand stitching!! lots of fun. :eek:
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: srtben on May 12, 2012, 06:45:00 PM: Alright boys and girls, here it is all wrapped up! I am definitely not Paul Long, but I think it came out alright.
This knife and sheath are basically all firsts for me, and I am pleased how they came out.
As tedious as hand stitching this monster was; I take pride in my knives being 100% sole authorship and that includes doing sheath work.

Let me know what you guys think, don't worry I can take it! ;)

P.S. I got this beautiful western diamond back skin from Snakewood3, if you need a skin definitely give him a shout.

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20%20bowie/IMG_1606.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20%20bowie/IMG_1612.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20%20bowie/IMG_1611.jpg)

(http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/srtben/High%20Cascade%20%20bowie/IMG_1610.jpg)
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: ScottA on May 12, 2012, 09:32:00 PM: wow ! very nice, that ties the whole thing together & I like the sole ownership.
Outstanding work !
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Nosight on May 12, 2012, 11:43:00 PM: If this was your first attempt at this style well what more can be said but WOW WOW and WOW...

The sheath ties it all together...
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Lin Rhea on May 13, 2012, 10:48:00 AM: Great work all the way around.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: Roughcountry on May 13, 2012, 11:14:00 AM: Great job on both. Your stitching is nice and even and the look of that sheath is tops.
Title: Re: High Cascade Bowie {Sheath done!}
Post by: srtben on May 15, 2012, 09:59:00 PM: Thanks very much guys!